OLYMPIA - State fishery managers will host four public meetings in late July to discuss proposals to treat three lakes in eastern Washington with rotenone, a naturally occurring pesticide commonly used to remove undesirable fish species from lakes and streams.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is proposing to treat Badger Lake in Spokane County, Spectacle Lake in Okanogan County, and the Hampton and Pillar-Widgeon Lake chains in Grant County this fall to remove species ranging from bass and bullhead to stunted panfish.

The Pillar-Widgeon chain is made up of 10 waters, including: Pillar, Snipe, Cattail, Gadwall, Poacher, Lemna, Shoveler, Sago, Hourglass and the Widgeons. The Hampton Chain is made up of Upper and Lower Hampton, Hampton Slough, Hen, Dabbler, Marie and three small, unnamed ponds.

"The goal is to restore trout populations by removing competing species that have essentially taken over," said Bruce Bolding, WDFW warmwater fish program manager. "Illegally stocked fish compete with trout fry for food and prey, rendering efforts to stock trout fry ineffective."

Public meetings to discuss the lake treatments proposed by WDFW are scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. on the following dates at the following locations:

July 30 - Tonasket , at the City Hall Council Chamber, 209 S. Whitcomb.

July 31 - Cheney, at the Cheney Library, 610 1st St.

In addition to input received at the public meetings, WDFW will consider written comments received through Aug. 23. Comments should be addressed to Bruce Bolding, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091.

Final consideration of the proposals will be made by the WDFW director in early September.

Rotenone is an organic substance derived from the roots of tropical plants, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved for use as a fish pesticide and as an insecticide in the agriculture industry. It has been used by WDFW in lake and stream rehabilitations for more than 70 years, and is commonly used by other fish and wildlife management agencies nationwide.

There are a couple on that list that I've fished since the early 80's that I hope they rehab.
The 3rd year after rehab can be toad city.
Best thing is they plant fry in a lot of those lakes, not triploids.

I would be great if someone would tape his presentation this coming winter and post here.

Some clubs are NOT very friendly when non-members show up once a year for a presentation by a public employee.

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Better than never isn't it? I don't know what Chad does as far as compensation, but that ultimately is his own time and energy beyond the public employ thing.

Now for me, I am also paid by the public (school teacher) but when I present to clubs, my wife demands more than gas money. And with that let's call this a shameless plug, my stillwater presentation kicks butt.

Better than never isn't it? I don't know what Chad does as far as compensation, but that ultimately is his own time and energy beyond the public employ thing.

Now for me, I am also paid by the public (school teacher) but when I present to clubs, my wife demands more than gas money. And with that let's call this a shameless plug, my stillwater presentation kicks butt.

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Ira, I would be happy to pay to see your presentation.

However, Chad is a public employee talking about information derived from his employment. As a public employee, on issues related to my job there was no way I could express an opinion different from my "official professional opinion".

When I was working my wife finally said enough......No more than two weekends a month with public presentations. AND the Federal government had to pick up my per diem since they could print money and we could not!!

I had to pick and chose which presentations I could spare the personal and professional time to do.

But guess what, once I retired NOBODY asked me to do a presentation!!! Wow, I did not know that I was that bad of a public speaker or JUST MAYBE THEY ONLY CARED WHAT I THOUGHT IN MY "OFFICIAL CAPACITY"!!

When I was working all my meetings and presentations with groups were open to the public. In thirty years, it came up once or twice. My response was the public stays or I go. Government needs to be open and transparent.

Even if public employees donate their time the only reason they are invited is because of their "official capacity".

Now if Chad wants to talk about "early childhood education in American Samoa" he can charge and kick the public out!!!